Since its humiliating defeat in the Parliament election, and subsequent defeats in two state polls (even if these were not unexpected), the Congress has become vulnerable to attacks not from opponents but also from within.
The open season on Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra, and the resignation from party membership of former minister G.K. Vasan, are but signs of the new reality.
There is no gainsaying that Mr Vadra needs a crash course in public relations, and in dealing with the media. Although manifestly not a public figure, it was expected that he would be sensitive to contemporary realities.
Taking refuge in the privacy argument in his case is not justifiable as his real estate transactions have been part of the public debate for some time.
But it is also evident that those going for him are really trying to fell Mrs Gandhi and her son Rahul. Their political incapacitation is needed for Congress’ long-term destruction as an organisation and vehicle of ideology.
If laws have been broken, Mr Vadra should be prosecuted. Hounding him down through the media daily has another feel about it.
The latest manifestation of Congress’ internal troubles is the resignation on Monday of Mr Vasan, a former Union minister (and son of the late G.K. Moopanar, a leading light of politics in his day).
This is the first desertion at a relatively senior level since the May defeat. But, in Tamil Nadu, the Congress hardly has any clout left. Thus, it is not clear how much damage Mr Vasan’s departure can cause even if he were to seek to revive the Tamil Maanila Congress, the short-lived party his father had once floated in Tamil Nadu.
It seems Mr Vasan has gone for factional reasons. It will be interesting to see if similar reasons lead to the exit of others in Tamil Nadu, and in other states.
Those tempted to depart will doubtless note that Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamul Congress parties that came out of the Congress are also not on a great wicket these days.
Thus, the choice for troubled souls might be limited to the BJP and some of the regional outfits. The dynamics in each party is different and newcomers are usually at some risk.
At various levels, some did defect to the BJP on the eve of the Assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra, but have not necessarily emerged satisfied with what they got.
The Congress leadership’s laid-back response to the recent historical defeat cannot be separated from the troubles the party is facing. The top brass seemed remote when the Congress was in power.
That has not changed. The planning of organisational elections is taking place in a dispirited outfit without clear tactical goals.
